POWER FOR COALMINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20642, 14 August 1930, Page 14

POWER FOR COALMINES.

ARRANGEMENTS AT HUNTLY. SUPPLY READY IN JANUARY. COST OF EXTRA EQUIPMENT. [li V TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON", Wednesday. The arrangements made by tho Central Electric-Power Board to supply various collieries near Huntly with power were discussed at tho meeting of tho board today. The engineer. .Mr. J. R. Ellis, reported that as a result of tho decision of the Public Works Department to rcmovo a steam plant from tho Grand Junction station at Waihi to Huntly, tho department had given an assuranco that power would he available for the Waikato Carbonising Company by the dale required, January 1, 1931. The company would require 450 kw. throughout the day. Glen Alton Collieries, Limited, had notified the board that -it would require from 400 to 500 kw. connected load by January 14 for use in tho Mac Donald mine, while arrangements had also been made to supply tho Wilton Colliery with from £0 to 100 kw. Tho Renown Colliery was at present receiving 110 kw. Mr. Ellis stated that the board would not be charged more than it was at. present tor power, although tho department was spending £BOOO in preparing the auxiliary plant. The board decided to grant the department the free use of its site with its existing foundations at Huntly for the, Waihi auxiliary plant. The agreement with tho Waikato Carbonisation Company was completed. The arrangement to supply the Glen Afton Company has not yet been finalised. The chairman, Mr. T. Hinton, said the board was greatly indebted to Mr. W. Lee Martin, M.P., for the assistance he had given in expediting the department's action, and a vote of thanks to him was passed. The cost oF transformers, additional lines, and other equipment in connection with the supply to the Waikato Carbonisation Company at Rotowaro was estimated at £3300. Transformers and switchgear to connect the Mac Donald mine, which was only 15 chains from the. board's line, were estimated to cost £9OO. Mr. Ellis said that in order to mako room for the Public Works Department's plant at Huntly, the old plant owned by the board, and located on the site the department proposed to use, would have to be dismantled and stored unless the efforts to sell it were successful. Tho chairman said the arrangements to supply the collieries with power were very satisfactory to the board.